On the day most of the rubble was cleared away I was called to meet Kakashi at the center of the crater. With Sasuke and Itachi at the Uchiha tent, I am left to go alone. With a tilt of my head, I look at the jonin standing in the crater. Kakashi, Yamato, Asuma, Guy, and a few I couldn't even begin to put a name to. Walking up behind Kakashi I hook my thumbs on the front pockets of my pants. "What's this?" I ask allowed successfully gaining all of their attention. Kakashi was the last to look at me with a smile wrinkling his mask. A smile I didn't feel like meeting with the thought of Aphrodite coming to mind. "Hn, Kakashi here has been named acting Hokage since Master Jiraiya refused." Asuma speaks up lowly almost looking bored though it was his usual expression. "Figured, he didn't want the title even when the third died." I mutter to Asuma not looking away from the Jonin in front of me. "We are currently discussing the best way to rebuild." Yamato speaks up and I nod. Though my eyes never leave the one that had summoned me here.
"So what am I supposed to do?" I ask more Kakashi than anyone else who has yet to speak. "We were discussing plans of rebuilding the village, I would like your ideas." Finally, he speaks! "Huh, well. Okay then." I speak up and look around. "My thoughts are simple, some earth style to fill in this crater, Yamato overtaxes himself by building with his wood release of course alongside the craftsman of the village who will be helping by hand. Water style and earth style to fix the rivers on the edges. Once Yamato rests up add in trees to make it like home again." I shrug and look back to Kakashi. "Otherwise you could leave the crater and redo some of the village's maps a bit to give it more character. But I would say fill in the hole. It would make Yamato's job easier. I would also work from the residential areas forward after the ground has been built back up just to give the hole time to settle completely. Doing that would get a lot of people out of tents and back beneath roofs."
"Hn, I see what you mean Kakashi." Guy grunts turning away from me towards Kakashi himself as the others look away from me as well. So what's going on? After a moment Kakashi steps up away from the Jonin so there was now no one between him and me. His gaze softens though I can't miss the lingering pain within his onyx eye. "Lady Hokage, Tsunade, spoke on this particular subject before the destruction of the village. With the other Jonin and even on the recommendations of chunin, Kira, You are given the rank of Jonin." So... he called me here to promote me? I glance from Kakashi to the others and audibly sigh. "Thank you, Kakashi, though now isn't really the time to worry about ranks. We should get to building." I mutter lowly and look away from him causing him to chuckle.
I stood back watching Kakashi delegating tasks to different Jonin. Even informing them to create teams of other like users to help them with their duties. The only one that couldn't was Yamato who didn't look at all happy about the workload he was given. "Maybe put Naruto with him so Naruto and his multitude of shadow clones can give him a hand." I suggest drawing the gazes of the last two Jonin towards me. "You could even use Choji's jutsu to help clear away any rubble that may still be in your way. Plus with his jutsu, it would work well with Naruto as they can also help the craftsman when they run low on their supplies." I suggest even though Yamato still looks not at all happy.
When all was said and done Yamato left to round up Naruto and Choji. Kakashi just walked past me and for a moment I was wondering if I should have left before now. At least until he stops and glances over his shoulder in my direction signifying he wanted me to follow him. Once we made it to the Hokage tent I follow him to his seat before setting down on the edge of the wood table just to the right of him. Purposefully keeping myself from blocking his view of the tent opening. He lets out a heavy sigh as if the weight of the world had suddenly been pushed onto his shoulders. Which it kind of has. "I spoke to Aphrodite." He finally speaks up nearly making me puff out my cheeks in irritation. Looking away from him I find the white backdrop of the tent more fascinating. When he noticed I wasn't going to say anything he sets back in his chair watching me. "There are possible reasons you feel the way you do. Without her analyzing your energy she can only assume that your near-death experience has brought something inside of you closer to the surface. She says it isn't uncommon for your people to.. awaken.. dormant parts of themselves under such circumstances. As she wanted me to remind you of your father."
Sighing I close my eyes and nearly shake my head. "I don't want to say it, but she's right. My dad finished his awakening during the war when he had come to the brink of death." Finally moving my gaze to him I find myself reaching over and ruffling his hair a bit causing his eye to widen. Huh.. his hair is really soft. I nearly openly shake my head to rid myself of those thoughts. "I know you can handle your new temporary position Kakashi. Try not to look so worried." He sighs heavily as he sits forward in his chair causing me to tilt my head. "Kira... Aphrodite..." I raise my hand cutting him off right there. "Sorry Kakashi, I just don't want to hear about her more than I already have. She's been keeping too many secrets from me and I really don't appreciate it. You don't have to try and thwart my temper." With these words, I finally smile at him as I fold my hands in my lap. "Secrets aren't a reason for me to go after her and kill her. So you don't have to worry about your girlfriend." I watch as his shoulders visibly slack, an almost too loud sigh coming from him.
"Besides, our issues aren't as important as the ones you will be faced with, Kakashi. If everything is still moving the way it should be. The Raikage will be sending a messenger here soon and the Kage Summit should be taking place afterward in the land of iron." Successfully changing the subject he sets back in his seat again his eye watching me. To business. I nearly smirk but I proudly hold it back. "During the summit, I think it would be best you leave Itachi, Sasuke, and I out of it. Tensions will be high anyway due to the Akatsuki and having a team full of ninja who had once defected from the village there would only put further strain on already tense relations."
"Yeah.." He sighs. "I see your point." He agrees as I resituate myself on the table so I am now in my indian style position. "I would say take Aphrodite and her red-headed teammate with you instead. They are Anbu so the other Kage shouldn't have a problem with it. I also think that when everyone decides to hide Naruto and the Raikage's brother from the Akatsuki, you should add in Yamato as well. If we can keep him out of their hands the upcoming war will be much easier to deal with." He gives me a brief nod and I nearly frown. Have things between us really become this tense? "Now, knowing you, Kakashi. You can tactfully tell them about Damen so they know that the Akatsuki aren't the only threat. This way we can have all five nations keeping an eye out for him. Maybe with more eyes, we can figure out what he's up to. And maybe find out why he brought my siblings here." I sigh putting my elbows on my legs as I slouch forward.
"Kira, are you?" I sigh cutting him off and meeting his gaze. I have a feeling I know where this conversation is going to go if I allow him to speak his mind. As it's a topic I really don't want to deal with right now. Him and Aphrodite, Sasuke and me. I just want to put that drama to the back of my mind. "If you want to keep in touch while you are at the summit." I speak up if only to push the pain in his gaze back a bit. "I will need two empty journals brought to me so I can link them. That way anytime you wish to speak to me for any reason all you have to do is write in it. I'll keep an eye on my book so the response times shouldn't take too terribly long." I suggest and watch as his thoughts cross over his gaze before he nods. "I'll call you here when I have them." He speaks quietly and I slip off of the table. Pausing at the opening of the tent I look over my shoulder in his direction. "Kakashi." I speak to pull him out of his thoughts and bring his gaze back on me. "Tell Aphrodite, if she fails to protect you at the summit. I won't hesitate to kill her. I'm being lenient with her but if you are injured in any way my patience will run out." With those words, I leave the tent. I meant every word of my warning. Though not exactly the way I had said them. If something were to happen to Kakashi, I will lose control.
Openly shaking my head I try to push thoughts about Aphrodite and Kakashi out of my mind as I walk towards the Uchiha tent. Knowing the one I need right now is inside. If he isn't fighting with his brother anyway. With deliberate strides, I walk through the area towards my destination. Ignoring the passing villagers and ninja. As I come up on the tent I stop just in front of it. At the moment this feeble domain is considered a home. It would be wrong to just walk in. "I'm looking for Itachi." I speak up loud enough I knew the ones inside could hear me. The one to open the tent however wasn't Itachi. His dark eyes boring into mine nearly has me looking away from him. "Kira." Itachi's voice comes from behind Sasuke giving me a reason to look away from him. I try to smile but somehow I don't quite manage it. "Let's spar." I mutter and find myself turning away from him. Causing Sasuke to give a grunt of confusion. I could hear rustling in the tent moments before Itachi's arm brushes against my shoulder as he comes up next to me. -I'm sorry, Sasuke. but I can't chance hurting you.- Those words remain rooted in my mind from having not spoken them. I walk with Itachi away from the village so that we don't disturb anyone.
"The usual spar." I speak as we walk through the forest. "All out and no holding back." Hn, Itachi grunts in understanding. I knew the moment I looked into his eyes at the tent. He wouldn't hesitate for this. The anger and pain masking his gaze was heavy. As if he could break at any moment, even though it's not like Itachi to lose himself to his emotions. No, he would let those feelings continue to build and fester. He needs to let loose as much as I do. Once we were far enough away from the village we stop and face each other. Our gazes locking even as the breeze picks up and pulls at the ends of our ponytails. We haven't done this since we were both actively in the Akatsuki. This time without Fishface watching us to stop us if we go too far.
With a smirk, I dodge to my right just as he sends shuriken at me. His movements were as usual fast enough I almost didn't feel them and my eyes surely couldn't keep up. Jumping to the air I raise my right hand in a one-handed sign, shooting my flames through me towards him. His form seems to blur as he dodges my attack. Moving fast enough an afterimage of himself is left behind. The sudden explosion from my energy rumbles the area and echoes through the air. The large ball of blue fire takes down trees in its path. A moment later a large ball of red and orange flames come rushing towards me having me coat my hand in my whip and send it through the air. Wrapping my condensed energy around a tree causes it to smoke even as I pull myself out of the way of the huge fireball. With a flip, I undo my whip and land on my feet before I can hit the tree. Turning to face Itachi I nearly laugh before I move over the ground. Itachi follows my movement as he runs in front of me. His Sharingan blazing in contrast with his black bangs blowing over his face.
"Are they fighting?" Kakashi questions as he and Guy leap down to the ground using the trees as cover. Keeping far enough away from the battle being waged that they wouldn't get caught up in a stray attack. "Seems like it." Guy grunts his answer. They had been drawn to the area when the shockwaves of explosions had rumbled through the village. Villagers were frightened and the ninja were put on edge thinking the Akatsuki were attacking again. Kakashi and Guy had met up in the trees moving towards the same goal. Sasuke then leaps through the trees backing away from the fight and lands on the ground. Kakashi was the first to notice him. "Sasuke." Kakashi speaks drawing the Uchiha's Sharingan hues to him. "What's going on?"
"Kira invited Itachi to spar with her." He grunts and ducks behind a nearby tree as a wave of hot wind scorches the air around them. "This isn't a spar, they could kill each other." Guy grumbles as he looks around the tree towards the two fighting. Kakashi however, knew from what he had heard about her fight against Aphrodite when Kira's loyalties were first being tested that she had held back. Even on their missions afterward, she hadn't been pushed far enough to use her full strength. She admitted it herself. And now as the three of them are forced further away from the fight to avoid the falling trees Kakashi can see for himself. The reason why she chose to fight Itachi.
As they land in safety Kakashi's own Sharingan moves over the area towards them. Watching their fight. "Must be eating at her again." He mutters low enough the others almost couldn't hear him over the sounds of the fighting. "What do you mean, Kakashi?" Guy questions as Sasuke looks over in his direction. "The curse mark." Kakashi grunts and Sasuke's eyes widen momentarily before he looks back towards his teammates. Proving to Kakashi that even though Kira chose him, she hasn't been completely open with him. Having both of their eyes on him again he sighs. "There are times when the feelings become almost unbearable. Telling her how weak she is, how nothing has changed since she was first marked." Kakashi speaks up just as another blast echos around them. "The curse mark is still trying to force her to Orochimaru." Sasuke grunts this time getting the attention of both Jonin. "Curse marks are designed to give the bearer no choice but to go to him." He elaborates as he watches Kira leap into the air. This time no hand signs of any kind as he can see her chakra protrude outward from her with enough density it nearly blocked her from view. Reminding him of when he had fought Naruto who had shot a ball of condensed chakra at him when they had fought in the valley of the end. The smirk on her face however made him wonder if Kakashi was right.
The air becomes heavy with the fight. "Guy, go back to the village and inform everyone there is nothing to worry about." Kakashi speaks up just as the force of the latest attack quakes over the ground. "Sasuke and I will stay here to make sure those two don't take things too far." He adds in when Guy had opened his mouth to protest. With that Guy nods before leaving the area. "This is why she didn't choose to fight me." Sasuke growls as he narrows his eyes on his brother. Who's own smile that is usually hidden is open to view. Kakashi glances at Sasuke briefly as he too watches the fight. "She never could hurt you." Kakashi realizes and shakes his head at his own thought. "She would have forced herself to hold back in order to fight you. As it seems she has no hesitation of hurting Itachi." Kakashi speaks only further driving Sasuke into his own building anger.
The sky darkens as lightning cracks above them. Rain begins to fall from the chakra being shoved into the air. Sasuke's eyes widen seeing a bolt of lightning shoot down, striking Kira but instead of hurting her it only causes lightning to shoot around her form. As if it had charged up her own lightning jutsu. Something he has only known himself to do. He had thought she chose him when she had confessed her feelings for him and him alone. Even when they had been in the trees on their own the way she had smiled at him before walking up to him and kissing him, he had thought she was completely his. Seeing her and Itachi fighting without holding back, without worrying about hurting each other. Even enjoying doing it. She accepts him in ways she hasn't been able to accept Sasuke himself. As equals.
